Overview

• A distress call around 2:30 pm on Friday triggered emergency services to the River Tees in Gainford during a summer heatwave.
• Multiple agencies, including Durham Police, the Great North Air Ambulance Service, North East Ambulance Service, Teesdale and Weardale Mountain Rescue Service, and County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service, took part in the search supported by drones and dogs.
• Police recovered the body of a 20-year-old man from the river later that evening and formal identification is pending.
• The man’s family has been informed and is receiving support from specialist officers.
• Officers cordoned off the river banks and urged the public to avoid the area while search operations were under way.